Lawrence Bonassar

Daljit S. and Elaine Sarkaria Professor in Biomedical Engineering
Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering

Professor
Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Biography

Dr. Bonassar joined Cornell University in 2003 after five years on the faculty of the Center for Tissue Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He completed postdoctoral fellowships in the Orthopaedic Research Laboratory at the Massachusetts General Hospital and in the Center for Biomedical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He currently serves on the editorial board of the journal Tissue Engineering.

Dr. Bonassar’s research group focuses on the regeneration and analysis of musculoskeletal tissues, including bone and cartilage. The approach involves a multidisciplinary strategy using techniques in biomechanics, biomaterials, cell biology, and biochemistry. Applications of this technology include the repair of articular cartilage, intervertebral disc, trachea and craniofacial defects.

At the cellular level, this work focuses on understanding the interactions of chondrocytes, fibroblasts and stem cells with biomaterials. This includes grafting of cell adhesion peptides to polymers and characterizing the effects of these alterations on the way in which cells sense their environment. Of specific interest is the extent to which intrinsic mechanical properties and externally applied forces control chondrocyte matrix assembly.

This work feeds into studies of the generation of biological structures at the tissue level, where cell-biomaterials interactions include understanding the way in which materials processing techniques affect cell behavior. This has led to the development of techniques known as tissue injection molding and cell-mediated sintering, whereby living implants are formed under conditions that support cell viability. Extensions of this work are aimed at fabricating composite tissues with heterogeneous structures and anisotropic properties.

The third focus area of the group is understanding structure-property relationships in native and engineered tissues. This involves experimental correlation of tissue mechanical properties with biochemical composition as well as mathematical modeling of tissue assembly processes and structure-property relationships.

Research Interests

Selected Publications

Cohen, D L., E. Malone, H. Lipson, Lawrence Bonassar. 2006. “Direct freeform fabrication of seeded alginate hydrogels in arbitrary geometries.” Tissue Engineering 12 (5): 1325-1335.
Bordeleau, F., B N. Mason, E M. Lollis, M. Mazzola, M R. Zanotelli, S. Somasegar, J P. Califano, C. Montague, D J. LaValley, J. Huynh, N. Mencia-Trinchant, Y L. Negrón Abril, D C. Hassane, L J. Bonassar, J T. Butcher, R S. Weiss, C A Reinhart-King. 2017. “Matrix stiffening promotes a tumor vasculature phenotype.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 114 (3): 201613855-201613855.
McCorry, M C., J L. Puetzer, L J Bonassar. 2016. “Characterization of mesenchymal stem cells and fibrochondrocytes in three-dimensional co-culture: analysis of cell shape, matrix production, and mechanical performance.” Stem cell research & therapy 7 (1): 39.
McCorry, M C., L J Bonassar. 2016. “Fiber Development and Matrix Production in Tissue Engineered Menisci using Bovine Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Fibrochondrocytes.” Connective tissue research.
Bonnevie, E D., M L. Delco, D. Galesso, C. Secchieri, L A. Fortier, L J Bonassar. 2016. “Sub-Critical Impact Inhibits: the Lubricating Mechanisms of Articular Cartilage.” Journal of Biomechanics.

Selected Awards and Honors

Fiona Ip Li ’78 and Donald Li ’75 Award (Cornell University, College of Engineering) 2020
Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Fellow 2019
Best Oral Presentation, “Annular Repair Using High-density Collagen Gel with Riboflavin Crosslinkage: Preliminary Results in an in vivo Ovine Model” (World Forum for Spine Research) 2016
DiscoverE/National Engineering Week New Face of Engineering, Darvin Griffin 2016
Research Excellence Award (Cornell University, College of Engineering) 2015
Robert ’55 and Vanne ’57 Cowie Excellence in Teaching Award (Cornell University, College of Engineering) 2014
World Technology Award in Health and Medicine 2013
Hansjörg Wyss Research Focus Award (AO Spine International, World Forum for Spine Research) 2010
Fiona Ip Li ’78 and Donald Li ’75 Excellence in Teaching Award (Cornell University, College of Engineering) 2009
American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineers Fellow 2009
Zellman Warhaft Contribution to Diversity Award (Cornell University, College of Engineering) 2007
Ralph S. Watts ’72 Excellence in Teaching Award (Cornell University, College of Engineering) 2006

Service Interests

Board of Directors, International Society for Biofabrication
Board of Director, Orthopaedic Research Society Conference
Chairman, Bioprinting: 3D Printing of Live Cells, Atlanta, GA
2013 Editorial Board, International Journal of Biomaterials
Editorial Board, 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing
Editorial Board, Biofabrication.

Education

B.S. (Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering), Johns Hopkins University, 1989
M.S. (Materials Science and Engineering), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1991
Ph.D. (Materials Science and Engineering), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1995